Obstructive sleep apnea is a breathing disorder marked by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep, lasting for longer than 10 seconds at least five times an hour throughout your sleep period. Untreated, sleep apnea can lead to serious health problems.

With sleep apnea, breathing often stops because something is blocking your upper airway. This might be muscles, your tongue or other body tissues. When you sleep, your entire body — including the muscles that help you breathe — is completely relaxed. In people with sleep apnea, these relaxed muscles combine with a narrowed airway to interrupt breathing. Obstructive sleep apnea can range from moderate to severe.

Anyone at any age can have obstructive sleep apnea. But it's most common in middle-aged and older adults. It's also more common in men than in women. Only 1 in 50 children have obstructive sleep apnea.

As many as 9 in 10 people who have obstructive sleep apnea don’t know that they have it. Without treatment, sleep apnea can lead to increased blood pressure, unstable oxygen levels, changes in your body’s response to insulin and glucose, changes in mental function and mood, and cardiovascular problems such as heart failure, heartbeat problems or stroke.

Symptoms

Some people have obstructive sleep apnea with no symptoms. Others find that they don't feel rested after a night of sleep, or they feel sleepy during the day. Other symptoms include:

• Snoring, especially when it is interrupted with periods of quiet
• Snoring that resumes with a loud sound as breathing starts again
• Morning headache
• Frequently falling asleep during the day
• Being easily irritated
• Depression
• Trouble remembering things

Risk Factors

Knowing the risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea can help you get a diagnosis. Some of the risk factors are:

• Family member with obstructive sleep apnea
• Large or thick neck — greater than 16 inches for women and 17 inches for men
• Long-term (chronic) nasal congestion
• Thyroid disorder or other endocrine condition
• Postmenopause
• Being overweight
• Defect of the tissues that support the head and neck
• Down syndrome
• Smoking
• Swollen or large adenoids and tonsils (in children)

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea usually involves a sleep study in which you are monitored as you sleep. Your provider will also do a physical exam, including an exam of the throat, neck and mouth. The provider will also ask about your health history, your sleep and bedtime routine and your symptoms.

Treatments

Common treatments to keep your breathing consistent and stop or reduce apnea episodes include:

• Sleeping with a CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machine and mask to keep your airway open.
• Wearing an oral appliance. This is a custom-fit mouthpiece your dentist or orthodontist can make for you to keep airways open while you sleep.
• Surgery. Several types of surgery can be done to treat obstructive sleep apnea, including implanting nerve stimulators to make the muscle strong and prevent airway collapse.

Making a few changes to your sleep and other behaviors can also help you manage obstructive sleep apnea:

• Work with your healthcare provider to lose weight, if needed.
• Sleep on your side.
• Don't drink alcohol.
• Limit your use of sedatives.

When to Contact a Healthcare Provider

Talk with a healthcare provider about a sleep study if your bed partner hears symptoms of apnea episodes or your snoring is causing problems. Feeling drowsy or falling asleep often during the day are also signs that you should call a provider.

Click here to learn more about Aultman Sleep Services.